Hello LactNetters.  This was posted to the parent-l list, and I thought it
worth sharing.  I've removed the name of the woman who translated and posted
it, as she was worried about copyright issues.  So I'll take the heat if
anyone objects.  Kathy Dettwyler

I saw an absolutely delightful article in a Swedish magazine and thought
I'd share some of it here. The magazine isn't "radical" or anything, more
like "mainstream" with a little bit more insightful articles than usually.
        The article tells about Annika Jankell, who is a popular
tv-personality in Sweden. More precisely, the article is about the fact
that she breastfeeds her two daughters, age 1,5 and 3,5.
        Here some parts (my translation...)

"Breastfeeding is some kind of a life philosophy for me. --- It is
individual, I don't want to tell other's what to do. I know that it can
be a hell if it doesn't work, but for me it has become a philosophy.
Because of what we, today's women, are like. We have to do so much, we
have to be everywhere at the same time and we leave our kids to
babysitters. At the same time we want to give our children everything,
that's the dilemma of being a mother and a working woman. We want to have
bits of everything and there's nothing to be ashamed of, but still we
have bad conscience. We are never enough, but we just have to be enough
when it is about children. Children are the only thing that are more
important than ourselves. So, it is obvious that all mothers try to find
something good they can offer their children.
        For me is breastfeeding this thing and it means so much to me. It
is security and closeness that only we have together and it is
unbelievably special. We belong together. I have a lot of milk and I'm
not in a hurry to wean my children. ---
        Felicia (3,5 years) has been breastfed throughout the pregnancy
with Happy (sic! HG) 1,5 years. That means that she has breastfed without
pause 3,5 years. That means that almost 1000 liters milk has come out of
her slim body. She's about 50 kg... - Well, it has just continued, she
laughs a little bit surprised by the amount of milk she has produced. -
The girls themselves will decide when they want to wean. It is for their
sake I am doing this, not myself. But it will definitely be a big thing
when this is over, emotionally. Ofcourse I can think sometimes that it
would be nice to stop because it is dependence and I am only human. I can
long for being egoistic and only think about myself, but I am not in a
hurry. Breastfeeding means a lot to me. ---
        Breastfeeding "eats" me, there are some bad sides. I can't even
remember NOT being tired. I eat so much but feel weak. Pumping can
sometimes ache but I have to do it sometimes when I work late. Or if I'm
dressed up very well and have to make a show on tv and suddenly I get
milkstains in my dress. And if I want to go out some evening, I have to
think what to wear. They get bigger during the evening. MUCH BIGGER.
        But I can go out and party, and if it is a "wet" party I can
always pump the next day. I didn't drink anything when the girls were
really small, my body just didn't want to take it.
        You know what? You just have to listen to your instincts. In our
materialistic society we have learned NOT to trust our emotions and
intuition. We have to dare to listen to our inner voice. Emotionally, I
see nothing bad in breastfeeding this long. There are so many good sides
in it. For example, there is not very much jealousness because I
breastfeed them both. They have no allergies, they are healthy, secure
and happy children. So many good things. Breastfeeding is one of the
beautiful little things in nature.
        Do you tell people you breastfeed both of your daughters?
        Ofcourse! I don't care what people think about it. I have come to
understand that I must have a extremely natural view of my body and soul
and children, because many people have strong emotions when I tell them
about us. Some get strong reactions  but I almost enjoy these situations.
"Now I'll go home to nurse." "Oh, how old is the little one?" "The
youngest is 1,5 and the oldest is 3,5." When I say this, they are
sometimes so astonished. But I'm certain that I am doing the right thing.
In some cultures it is normal to breastfeed a long time, also animals do
it, animal babies wean when they want to.
        So, some people are shocked but there are as many people who
think it is fantastic. Mostly men, in fact. They think it's the right
thing. Back to nature.
        How natural are you? Do you breastfeed in public?
        Not anymore. It is our own thing. Maybe even I wouldn't like to
see that in public. You can't criticize those who get hurt very much. I
remember a picture I once saw. It was an unemployed divorced woman in
Ireland who had lots of children and she breastfed them because they
wouldn't get enough nutrition otherwise. In the picture there was her
14-year-old skinhead type of son who was having a little drink from his
mother's breast and at the same time he was holding a cigarette in his
hand. It made such an impression on me and I try to remember that picture
when I try to understand those who seem to be shocked. I don't plan to
breastfeed that long..."

There are two very nice pictures attached to the article, very sensual,
plain, natural. No nursing, just being together. She is very beautiful in
an earthy and natural way.

OOoops, it was sooo long. Thanks for listening and sorry for the horrible
English translation. Mind you, from one foreign language to another at
4.14 a.m. and my mother-in-law is coming to visit us in only three hours...

Kathy Dettwyler
e-mail to [log in to unmask]
Queen of Cinnamon Buns today